Rent vs buy in Macon, GA
In Macon, Georgia, the typical rent runs $1,210 /mo and the typical home price is $171,522.
Over 7 years, buying wins by $19k
For Macon's typical rent and home value, the calculation uses 20% down and today's mortgage rate. In year 4, you reach break-even.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number and the stamp updates.
- An advantage for owning
- $19k after 7 years
- The break-even point
- in year 4 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $1,578 monthly year 1, against $1,210 rent
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Macon's typical rent and home value are the stamp's inputs. The result can flip depending on your rent, your price and your years.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Macon?
Buying costs $19,059 less over 7 years when you include the money returned by the sale. In year 4, owning's net cost falls below renting's and stays lower.
Renting. Owning. Running net cost, by year.
Macon: average rent compared with the mortgage payment
For year 1 at Macon's typical price, this lists every monthly cost. Rent and mortgage payments aren't the full story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,210 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $935 | $824 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $147 | 1.03% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $113 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $143 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,338 | $111 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $279 | At 8.3% a year, what the cash would earn |
| Buying costs, spread out | $71 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $1,578 | Cash out, less the equity portion, plus both lines listed above |
The numbers behind Macon's verdict
- Typical home value Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $171,522
- Typical rent Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,210 each month
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance. That insurance isn't included in the engine's calculations.
- 20%
- Rate source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in house prices: FHFA house price index for Georgia, 1995 to 2025
- 4.4% yearly
- Source for rent growth: Yearly CPI growth for rent of primary residence, 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% yearly
- Return on savings1928 to 2025: 60% S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly
- 8.3% each year
- Tax on the propertyCensus ACS 2020-2024, Macon
- Value times 1.03%
- Insurance for the homeCensus ACS 2020-2024, Macon
- $113 per month
- UpkeepFannie Mae, 1% to 4%, low end
- 1% of the value every year
- Costs of buyingFreddie Mac, 2% to 5%, middle
- 3.5% of the price
- Costs when you sellAgent commission and closing costs
- 6% of the price
What would change the verdict in Macon?
Every line shows where the verdict changes in Macon over 7 years. Every other input stays the same.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow at less than 3.0% a year (the calculation uses 4.4%, Georgia's long-run rate).
- Mortgage rates remain over 9.19%.
- The typical rate here is $1,210; a similar home rents for less than $1,010 each month.
- Moving happens before year 4.
When buying wins
- Home prices grow at more than 3.0% a year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 9.19% (today's rate is 7.24%).
- You'd pay over $1,010 each month to rent the same home.
- You remain for 4 years or longer.
Macon compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Macon | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $171,522 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,210 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 11.8 (#764 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.9% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.03% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 49% | 42% |
Data from: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Georgia cities
- Rent. Atlanta, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $13k.
- Buy. Columbus, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $31k.
- Buy. Augusta, GA. Buying is ahead by $27k.
- Too close to call. Savannah, GA. Renting has a $1k lead.
- For Athens, GA, renting is $5k cheaper than buying.
- In Sandy Springs, GA, renting is $184k cheaper than buying.
- Rent. Roswell, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $159k.
- Buy. Warner Robins, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $21k.
- Rent. Johns Creek, GA. Renting comes out ahead by $107k.
- Buy. Mableton, GA. Buying comes out ahead by $7k.
- Rent. Alpharetta, GA. Renting leads by $154k.
- Buy. Albany, GA. Buying leads by $15k.